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Valour FC signs Winnipeg forward to contract

Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League announced on Tuesday, May7, 2019 that the professional soccer club has signed Winnipeg forward Marco Bustos to a multi-year contract. Bustos will join Valour FC from Oklahoma City Energy (OKC Energy) of the United Soccer League. Bustos, 23, was a member of FC Northwest in Winnipeg for four years before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy in 2011 where he remained until 2014.Photo: Vancouver Sun

Ted Wyman

Published: May 7, 2019 - 6:36 PM

Valour FC has added another well-known Winnipeg player to a roster that is already bursting with local flavour.

The Winnipeg club announced the signing of 23-year-old forward Marco Bustos on Tuesday.

Bustos has had his name in Winnipeg sports pages for a decade as he came through local soccer to earn a residency with the Vancouver Whitecaps and a 10-day tryout with English Premier League powerhouse Liverpool. He eventually played 57 MLS games for the Whitecaps.

He was most recently playing for Oklahoma City Energy of the United Soccer League and will now bring his talents back to Winnipeg.

Valour FC has a 1-1 record in the inaugural Canadian Premier League season and plays at Calgary on Wednesday night. Bustos, who previously played for Valour FC coach Rob Gale on the Canadian U20 national team, joins a group of seven Winnipeggers on the Valour FC roster.

“I am delighted to bring a player of Marco’s calibre into Valour Football Club,” Gale said. “Along with our two Dylans, I have very fond memories coaching Marco from a young age. He has blossomed into a dynamic attacking player whose goal-scoring creativity will excite the Valour Army.”

Bustos officially signed with the Whitecaps in 2015 and was loaned to Mexican side Club Atletico Zacatepec in 2018. He joined OKC Energy last August.

“I am thankful and honoured to be joining Valour FC,” Bustos said. “It will be my privilege to represent my hometown in front of my family and friends. I know Rob very well and I am happy to continue my journey with him.”